Who Will Head Next Government in Jammu Kashmir?

Srinagar – As the deadlock continues over the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir following the fractured verdict in the recently-concluded assembly elections, we try to take a look at the new dispensation that will head the state through the prism of latest developments.

Outgoing Chief Minister and Working President of National Conference Omar Abdullah met the BJP Chief Amit Shah in New Delhi today and discussed the prospect of forming next government in Jammu and Kashmir, India Today reported.

Abdullah, we believe, might not be able to access Twitter during the journey to say ‘yes or no’ to the reported meeting, but BJP’s General Secretary Ram Madhav denied any such meeting took place.

Before leaving for London, Omar, however, said that his party’s stand had been made clear when he had offered to support the rival PDP of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in this regard. That offer stood and it was for the PDP to take a call on it.

Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the newly-elected MLAs, Finance Minister and BJP’s central observer Arun Jaitley said the legislators authorised party President Amit Shah to decide the future course of action on government formation.

“Whoever forms the government, BJP will have a crucial role to play in view of the fact that it has the highest popular vote in the elections.

“We will go (ahead on the issue of government formation) with three principles based on national and state interest. They are: strengthening of national sovereignty, development and regional balance,” he said.

The Minister said the party was in touch with unattached members but described as inaccurate reports that it was in discussions with other party leaders in the state.

Congress Chief in Jammu and Kashmir Saifuddin Soz said that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed should be allowed to lead a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Without naming the National Conference or Omar Abdullah, Soz said that “certain power-hungry political groups and individuals are trying to subvert the democratic verdict of the people”.

While the PDP remains tight-lipped, Hakim Yasin, Chief of Peoples Democratic Front described as “inaccurate” the reports that he offered his support to the BJP.

PDP emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats in the 87-member Assembly followed by BJP with 25, all of them in Jammu region, and NC with 15 while Congress got 12 seats.

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